Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / May 2005
Worried about my cat
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Swyck@nospam.com - 12 May 2005 02:42 GMT Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr Spock (normal), but she is also growling at me, which she's never done before. It's a low long growl like I've never heard from her before.
She's been there for hours, hasn't moved, and doesn't look like she's coming out any time soon. This is not a normal hiding or sleeping spot for her. She seemed fine at lunch time, begged for her pets as usual. She ate her dinner, or at least she started. Now she won't even accept any treats which is most unlike her.
I'm worried that something's wrong. I want to take her to the vet in the morning, but I don't know how I'm going to get her out from under the bed if she doesn't come out on her own. If she's all excited, sick or injured, I don't want to just try to grab her. She'd either run out the other side or claw me.
Any suggestions? I live alone and don't think I'd get many volunteers to get the crazy angry kitty out from under the bed.
Swyck
John Ross Mc Master - 12 May 2005 03:00 GMT >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >Swyck She may have been traumatized by something, or contracted an illness. See the vet! I have heard this low growl a couple of times and it isn't pretty. Now, luring her out..Get down to her level and tempt her with catnip. If that doesnt work (you have to get her out) use a broomhandle and force her out. She'll thank you if the vet fixes her problem.
Cheryl - 12 May 2005 03:26 GMT >>Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat >>ran under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > broomhandle and force her out. She'll thank you if the vet fixes > her problem. I agree. A method I've used to get my former feral out from under the bed is to turn on the vaccum cleaner in the bedroom. Works every time. You just have to be prepared to offer another hiding space (like the bathroom) and shut all of the other doors before you do.
 Signature Cheryl
"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields
Charlie Wilkes - 12 May 2005 03:40 GMT >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >Swyck My vote would be to leave her alone for now. She might have heard something that was inaudible to you that really unnerved her. Now she needs a bit of time to chill out, and she's found the spot where she wants to do it.
I wouldn't try to coax or bribe her, but rather ignore her, at least until it is time to take her to the vet. That low growl is meant as a warning to be taken seriously.
I'll bet she will not turn out to be physically ill, but it never hurts to find out.
Charlie
Mary - 12 May 2005 03:49 GMT > >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran > >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > I'll bet she will not turn out to be physically ill, but it never > hurts to find out. What worries me is that cats are generally so stoic about discomfort, if her behavior is due to pain or illness, she must be REALLY ill.
Brian Link - 12 May 2005 07:42 GMT >> >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran >> >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] >behavior >is due to pain or illness, she must be REALLY ill. After a few hours?
Well, nonetheless, I give you credit for googling this and coming up with a slightly-defensible diagnosis.
Perhaps you're an expert, nonetheless! And you've been hiding your competence under the guise of "I Know You Are But What Am I" posts for years.
To the OP - Mary has only demonstrated crackpot behavior in the past, though her suggestion has some merit that could be as easily uncovered by a google search of "cat hiding" or "stewardess porn".
Nice try.
BLink
Mary - 12 May 2005 08:01 GMT > >> >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran > >> >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > Well, nonetheless, I give you credit for googling this and coming up > with a slightly-defensible diagnosis. The only time I had a cat do this, she died. And that was after I got her to the vet right away.
Alison - 12 May 2005 09:45 GMT > What worries me is that cats are generally so stoic about discomfort, if her > behavior > is due to pain or illness, she must be REALLY ill.>>. Just for once I actually agree with Mary. I know cats get scared or upset over something and hide for a day or two but if her behaviour *is* due to illness then it could be serious. Alison
Mary - 12 May 2005 15:59 GMT > > What worries me is that cats are generally so stoic about > discomfort, if her > > behavior > > is due to pain or illness, she must be REALLY ill.>>. > > Just for once I actually agree with Mary. Ouch, that must hurt! ;)
I know cats get scared or
> upset over something and hide for a day or two but if her behaviour > *is* due to illness then it could be serious. > Alison I know we both hope it is not due to illness, but in any case I hope the cats gets to a vet asap.
Cheryl - 12 May 2005 03:56 GMT > My vote would be to leave her alone for now. She might have > heard something that was inaudible to you that really unnerved [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I'll bet she will not turn out to be physically ill, but it > never hurts to find out. My vote is that since the behavior started after eating that maybe she's uncomfortable or in pain. Maybe she has an obstruction? I wouldn't wait if the cat is hiding for hours like this. And the new growling thing. Not good.
 Signature Cheryl
"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields
John Ross Mc Master - 12 May 2005 04:07 GMT >> My vote would be to leave her alone for now. She might have >> heard something that was inaudible to you that really unnerved [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >wouldn't wait if the cat is hiding for hours like this. And the new >growling thing. Not good. If the behaviour is psychologically based it will usually rapidly pass in my opinion. It didn't, so it must be physical. It can't hurt to see a vet.
Charlie Wilkes - 12 May 2005 07:12 GMT >>> My vote would be to leave her alone for now. She might have >>> heard something that was inaudible to you that really unnerved [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >in my opinion. It didn't, so it must be physical. It can't hurt to see >a vet. I agree the vet is a good idea, but my intuitive thought is not bother her until it is time to round her up for the appointment, if only because that might increase the likelihood she will emerge on her own accord.
I don't claim to have the answer, but I have known healthy cats to do this kind of thing when something scares them.
Charlie
Mary - 12 May 2005 08:01 GMT > >>> My vote would be to leave her alone for now. She might have > >>> heard something that was inaudible to you that really unnerved [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > because that might increase the likelihood she will emerge on her own > accord. That makes sense, but hopefully the appointment is not far off.
Philip - 12 May 2005 06:45 GMT > Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran > under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Swyck Get her out from under the bed. Personally, I find the firing up a vacuum cleaner will flush most cats out of hiding. Of course, a really stubborn cat may need the blower end of an old Electrolux aimed in its direction. Works every time!
Brian Link - 12 May 2005 07:59 GMT >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >Swyck All the following comments are from personal experience, so take with a grain of salt. Always best to call your vet and give em the rundown,.
1. Is your house open in any way? Screen doors, screen windows, recently opened due to the spring weather? It could be that she smelled another cat and freaked out. How old is she? Could this be the first time she encountered another strange cat?
2. Did you hear a yelp, like when you moved your chair or the other cat was scrambling? Could be that she got injured and is panicked. Cats are really good at avoiding possible injury - it's from their wild roots - if you're a predator, injury can kill you because it keeps you from hunting, or tips off others that you're unable to defend yourself.This also seems to be why cats hide pain so well.
3. Any loud noises when she freaked? If she's young without the experience of loud noises (in Minnesota, air-raid sirens traumatized our young cat for weeks) then she might be reacting to something unfamiliar.
Removing her:
Our good old cat "Terror" (survivor of a week in an airplane cargo hold) would escape the house and hide under cars across the street. I would hold out my hand and he would attack and attach himself like a glove (I was young and felt indestructable, as all teens do). In that pose we would stroll back to the house and bring him home. He was a victim of lead poisoning (we found out later), so was irrational. If your kitty is there for more than 24 hours then put on some tough gardening gloves and go in after her.
I suspect that she'll creep out before then, though.
Comforting words, familiar toys, favorite treats may do a lot to convince her there's no threat. If it was you who rolled over her tail on a kitchen chair, regaining her trust might take slightly longer, though. Lay out a prize/treat and watch from a safe distance. Remember the capabilities of these animals to assess their surroundings.
Nonetheless, if she's otherwise healthy, she'll need to eat or use the litterbox eventually. I couldn't scan the time of the OP, but I bet this will correct itself. If not, call the vet, and most will visit the house if there's an extreme situation.
Offered fwiw
BLink
Mary - 12 May 2005 08:03 GMT > >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran > >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > All the following comments are from personal experience, so take with > a grain of salt. As if any moron would not know this. Jesus.
Brian Link - 12 May 2005 08:31 GMT >> >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran >> >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > >As if any moron would not know this. Jesus. Score one for you.. 1) A moron who knows this
Next is to move on to more difficult topics - like "breathing is good: discuss"
BLin
Mary - 12 May 2005 09:38 GMT > >> >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran > >> >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > BLin You post sloppily when you drink, do you know that?
Brad - 13 May 2005 05:28 GMT
>Score one for you.. 1) A moron who knows this > >Next is to move on to more difficult topics - like "breathing is good: >discuss" > >BLin Brian take it easy on her please......I am forming a relationship with Mary......she liked me right from the start and now I am starting to give in to her lovely personality......yes she is a project but she does resemble a human being a little bit.......my only worry is with her mouth being so dirty I can't imagine what the rest of her is like......but no one said it would be easy.......can't you see she is crying out for help.......she is still looking for her first friend and I hope I can fullfill that role for her.......
Mary.......no need to thank me this is a two way street.....and you made the first overtures so I feel this fierce need to stand by you.........smooch
Brad
LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!"
Swyck@nospam.com - 12 May 2005 16:29 GMT >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr >Spock (normal), but she is also growling at me, which she's never done >before. It's a low long growl like I've never heard from her before. snip
>Any suggestions? I live alone and don't think I'd get many volunteers >to get the crazy angry kitty out from under the bed. > >Swyck Thank you all for your help. Here is a follow up.
Missy cat stayed under the bed all night. She did come out on her own this morning while I was preparing the cats breakfast. She sniffed at the food but didn't eat.
She still isn't herself. I don't think she drank and I'm sure she didn't use the litter box. She'll accept no treats either, and that's a sure sign somethings wrong. She did lie down on her pillow near where I work on the computer and let me pet her, though she didn't respond as she usually does. At least she isn't in a scared, angry and hiding mood any more.
I took her to the vet and they didn't find anything obviously wrong. They are keeping her for the day. They want to see if she uses the litter box, and will do some blood tests also.
Swyck
Slimpickins - 12 May 2005 18:19 GMT > >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran > >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Swyck ***Good for you for taking her to the vet. I'm glad that they are keeping her overnight for observation because that is a good call, IMO. Good luck to you and her, and please keep us informed on how she's doing.
ML
Swyck@nospam.com - 13 May 2005 17:57 GMT >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >Swyck The vet didn't find anything wrong with Missy cat. She spent the day in observation. Blood tests came up normal. The doc said that she may have been in some trauma, e.g. other cat at the window, scary noise, or something, and he thinks she'll be fine.
She appears OK now, eating like normal, and doing her usual activities. Not sure what happened but I'm glad she's OK. The vet did say keep an eye on her.
It's Mr Spock that is having problems now. He doesn't trust Missy cat at all -- Its like she's a strange cat. He always gets extremely upset at other cats in the yard, and maybe she smells different from being at the vet. He hisses at her, won't come near her, and is always watching her.
That could be an improvement over him beating her up every once in a while. He's the most vocal cat I've ever seen, and he's good for some interesting vocalizations when he's mad. I guess eventually, he'll realize who she is, and that he can kick her butt, and probably will.
These cats are something else.
Swyck
John Ross Mc Master - 13 May 2005 18:24 GMT >>Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran >>under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > >Swyck It's good to know it was probably something environmental. But don't ya feel better for having taken Missy to the vet? And I hope that Spock behaves more logically in the future.
Karen - 13 May 2005 20:06 GMT I sound like a broken record, but since everyone is so skittish right now, consider picking up a Feliway diffuser from the pet store. www.feliway.com
> >Everything seemed fine, until a little after dinner Missy cat ran > >under the bed and won't come out. She growls at my other cat, Mr [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > Swyck Brad - 14 May 2005 09:23 GMT >I sound like a broken record, but since everyone is so skittish right now, >consider picking up a Feliway diffuser from the pet store. www.feliway.com
This is about the third or fourth time I have heard this product mentioned without a rebuttal from anyone people must have had great results with no negative reactions. It actually drugs the cat I suppose but then again thats what catnip does also huh.....??
It sounds like it has been extensively tested for safety. In the ad it says the bottle would last for a certain amount of time is this something that you use on an ongoing basis or only when it is needed? I'm determined to not lose any furniture the ad sounds like if I can't stop the scratching with normal training to use this to stop scratching have you or anyone used it for that purpose also.....if so how did you utilize it......?
Brad
LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!"
Karen - 14 May 2005 15:32 GMT >> I sound like a broken record, but since everyone is so skittish right now, >> consider picking up a Feliway diffuser from the pet store. www.feliway.com [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > results with no negative reactions. It actually drugs the cat I > suppose but then again thats what catnip does also huh.....?? It's not a drug but an imitative synthetic hormone. I suppose you could say like some soothing smell that makes us relax like.....baking bread before while showing a home for sale causes people to be more apt to buy it. It makes them feel everything is OK. I have found it does soothe my cats who do not always get along. They definitely get crankier at each other when the diffuser gets empty. Not all people have the same rate of success, but it is clinically proven to help allviate stress for cats. Since animals function so highly on smell, (more than us!) it makes sense. They have a dog and now and equine version.
> It sounds like it has been extensively tested for safety. In the ad it > says the bottle would last for a certain amount of time is this [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > scratching have you or anyone used it for that purpose also.....if so > how did you utilize it......? You can get a bottle that you used to spray on areas that chronic "sprayers" use. But they also have the diffuser which is like those plug in air fresheners, to just have a general "everything's OK" scent around. I don't think it is that successful with scrathching, but it is very good for scaredy/nervous/upset cats and sprayers (as long as the spraying is due to territory issues and NOT medical). I used it initially for Grant because he was getting crystals in his urine and blocking. Stress can cause and add to the problem of crystal formation (see Interstitial Cystitis). So, along with diet changes and pushing water, I got Feliway as the veterinary studies on Interstitial Cystitis recommend it. When we got Pearl, I continued using it because it was a difficult introduction and "friendship" never did occur, but I found that if the kitty spats started escalating, usually the diffuser was empty. So for me, that signals it does work to keep cats from getting too anxious or territorial. It's not going to make them be buddies, but it definitely seems to subtly ease stress. They aren't drugged and they don't slow down (I do know one person who felt her cats became too sluggish, but as with anything YMMV so one has to judge one's own cats and their reactions.) Most vets sell it. I think the studies on the difference in times it takes a cat to begin eating when at the vets is pretty telling. I just think it's a great non-drug alternative for mild anxiety issues. It obviously is a good enough product that folks steal it. It's about TWICE as expensive for refills in the pet stores as online. I've seen refills for about 12 dollars at www.petguys.com and I think valleyvet.com has it too for good prices. The refill bottle seems to last about 2 to 2.5 months.
Brad - 15 May 2005 16:07 GMT >>> I sound like a broken record, but since everyone is so skittish right now, >>> consider picking up a Feliway diffuser from the pet store. www.feliway.com [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] >about 12 dollars at www.petguys.com and I think valleyvet.com has it too for >good prices. The refill bottle seems to last about 2 to 2.5 months. Karen, thank you for the extensive answer I guess maybe there is something to aromatherapy that we hear about so much these days its pretty obvious that even as humans (as you mentioned in the baked bread example) some smells make us happier than others for certain. When we hear about the growing number of people taking anti depressants I guess its not a stretch to say our animals can have issues too.
Mary, thanks I am ready with scratching posts vertical and horizontal and one of those cat trees I guess they call them with some sisal posts built into it I am not really fussy about furniture I just don't want to have to replace it if it gets torn up. I am probably making more of an issue about it than I need to.
Brad
LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!"
Mary - 14 May 2005 19:23 GMT > >I sound like a broken record, but since everyone is so skittish right now, > >consider picking up a Feliway diffuser from the pet store. www.feliway.com [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > scratching have you or anyone used it for that purpose also.....if so > how did you utilize it......? All you have to do to stop furniture scratching completely is give them something they prefer to scratch. My cats no longer touch the furniture.
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